Reborn in 1977

Chapter 449: Tear It All Down

The mechanical factory's motorcade was divided into several teams, all of which were truck teams, except for the last one, which was a car team dedicated to serving the organization.

In addition to this, there was also an auto repair team serving the motorcade.

While most units were still thinking about how to buy more old cars, they even had their own dedicated auto repair team.

This shows how strong the mechanical factory was.

If there weren't enough vehicles, would the higher-ups approve the establishment of an auto repair team?

What?

You don't need the approval of higher-ups, the factory can decide on its own?

Hehe, that's for service departments like the cafeteria and workers' club, but anything that requires the supply of industrial raw materials cannot be established without the approval of higher-ups.

If the higher-ups don't agree, where are you going to buy auto parts?

Without enough auto parts, how could Chen Fan build new cars?

That's right, Chen Fan wanted to hand-craft a car.

When he saw the four cars in the corner of the auto repair shop, his heart sank more than half way.

The tires were flat, the bodies were collapsing, the windows were dusty, and everything exuded a sense of dilapidation.

Refurbish them?

I might as well build a new one!

He felt a chill in his heart, but Factory Director Yang and the other two looked pleased.

Deputy Factory Director Li pointed to the four cars and said, "Look, these are the cars your father got from his original unit, Jiangnan Mechanical Factory. Back then, which unit in the entire Yunhu area had 4 cars?! Only our mechanical factory had them!"

Factory Director Yang put his hands on his hips, "Of course, they look a bit old now, and they can't even be ignited, but they've been covered with oilcloth all these years, so they haven't collected too much dust. The master mechanics in the auto repair team have checked them and said that they can be repaired as long as suitable spare parts can be bought."

Behind them, a master mechanic covered in oil stains, looking over 50 years old, grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, "In a word, as long as we can get a suitable engine, even if we don't have anything else, our factory can put together a car! We can even make the axle, bearings, and universal joint ourselves!"

Chen Fan wiped away a cold sweat and turned to smile at the master, "Then our factory is quite amazing!"

Many people may not have heard of this universal joint, it is not big, but it is an indispensable part of a car.

Lu Guanqiu, who was praised by the vice president as the first person in private enterprises, his Wanxiang Group, the company name comes from the universal joint.

Initially, it was because he affiliated the company with Zhejiang Import and Export Company and received an order at the Canton Fair that the collective small enterprise, which originally produced plowshares, iron rakes, bearings, and chains, obtained a steady stream of overseas orders through the universal joint product, and achieved the Wanxiang Group, which is now the absolute leader in the national auto parts industry.

But that is a very distant matter, now Chen Fan is thinking about how to hand-craft his new car.

At this time, Factory Director Yang took two steps forward and said with a soft smile, "Xiao Fan, which car do you like? I'll have the auto repair team fix it for you."

Chen Fan coughed dryly, rubbed his hands, and smiled, "Uncle Yang, I can choose any of these cars, right?"

Factory Director Yang immediately nodded, "Of course, this is the resolution of the factory office meeting. As long as you agree to be the factory's health consultant, we will provide you with a special car."

Saying that, he pointed to the 4 cars, "If the cars in the car team weren't really tight, we wouldn't give you this kind of junk."

Chen Fan grinned and laughed, "Not junk, not junk, it's pretty good."

If it weren't for these junky things, he wouldn't be able to hand-craft a car.

He looked back, turned around, and smiled, "That's right, I'll study it here first. You guys are busy with official duties, so go ahead and do your thing. I can handle it here myself."

Factory Director Yang looked at him, pondered for two seconds, then looked at the auto repair team leader and the master mechanic next to him, "Please put in some effort. Anyway, there are only these few cars. Let him choose whichever one he wants. Report directly for any spare parts needed, or if you need the cooperation of other workshops in the factory, you can go directly to them."

Then he waved to Chen Fan and walked a few steps to the side, obviously wanting to talk privately.

Chen Fan quickly walked over, "What's the matter?"

Factory Director Yang looked at him and blinked. Heh, even the Northern erhua sound is coming out? Dare to say he's not Old Chen's son?

He coughed softly, leaned closer, and said softly, "Xiao Fan, look, what we said yesterday was to help the factory with some suggestions and see how to proceed to the next step, right?"

Chen Fan looked at him and blinked, the meaning was very clear, what's up, aren't the five basic principles of factory management enough?

Factory Director Yang smiled, and said, "The suggestion you just made is very good, but today you also saw that the mechanical factory has too many product types. We basically do whatever the higher-ups ask us to do."

As he spoke, he raised his fingers, "From the early guns and cannons to the later light vehicle parts, these were all made in preparation for war. Later, we turned to civilian use and accepted tasks such as bicycles and sewing machines.

Now, it is basically based on various mechanical parts, especially vehicle and ship parts, but there are also some small agricultural machinery, tractors, small machine tools and other tasks.

Anyway, we produce whatever the higher-ups ask us to produce. Although there is still some surplus capacity, we don't know where to use it."

After a pause, he sighed softly, "I have been busy sorting out factory affairs since I resumed work more than a year ago, and I haven't had time to think about this. Until this time, the police came to me to investigate your situation, which made me think of your father.

He often talked to me about the development of the factory back then, and he repeatedly said one thing, that is, a mechanical factory must have its own fist product, otherwise, it will always only be the 'odd job worker' of the higher-ups, or a 'reserve army' that is used whenever they think of it."

Hearing this, Chen Fan first thought of Wuling. Back then, the Liuzhou Machinery Factory almost made whatever the higher-ups needed, and the transformation was quite smooth.

People originally made airplanes, then made engines, and also made oil saws, Honghe brand tractors, Guangxi brand cars, Liujiang brand cars, and 127-horsepower rowing machines.

Chen Fan's small yacht is equipped with this rowing machine, and it works quite well.

Later, Liuzhou Machinery also successively spun off the Power Machinery Factory, Machine Tool Factory, Magneto Factory, Auto Parts Factory…

There are more product types than Yunhu Mechanical Factory.

However, Wuling didn't do it as messy as Yunhu Mechanical Factory.

Then he thought of the state-owned enterprise where he interned when he graduated from university.

Unlike Yunhu Mechanical Factory, that numbered factory was positioned from the beginning as an enterprise specializing in the production of shortwave radios, but the amount of tasks given by the higher-ups was insufficient, so they tried to produce radios and even televisions by themselves. In the new century, in order to get rid of losses, they resolutely went to make mobile phones.

It's also hard to say.

Okay, these all belong to the communication category, but they haven't deviated from the main line.

It's just that, this situation is indeed not uncommon in various large factories today.

On the contrary, people like Factory Director Yang and Chen's father who realize that a factory needs to have a fist core product are rare.

Chen Fan looked at him, his face a little hesitant, "You wouldn't want me to determine this fist product, would you?"

Director Yang chuckled upon hearing this, "Such a big matter, naturally, it won't be done just as you say."

He smiled at Chen Fan, "Just consider yourself as one of the subjects I'm using for preliminary research."

Hearing this, Chen Fan finally breathed a sigh of relief, "That's more like it. I thought…"

He stopped halfway, chuckled, and said, "This is such a big deal, I need to think about it carefully. I'll give you an answer in a few days."

Director Yang nodded with a smile, "Alright, there's no rush. Take your time to think, and tell me when you've made up your mind."

This kid seems even smarter than his father. At least, even if his father were sent to Lujiawan, he might not be able to achieve what this kid has. So, I'm quite eager to hear Chen Fan's thoughts.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard Chen Fan say, "Uncle Yang, there's something I want to confirm."

Director Yang looked at him, "Go ahead."

Chen Fan lowered his voice and asked, "Is it that whatever you want to do, the higher-ups will agree?"

It's still the same saying; nowadays, factories have to accept task assignments from higher authorities. It's not like you can build a car just because you want to build a car…

Well, it seems like you actually can.

Because it wasn't until 1989 that China issued the 'Provisional Regulations on the Management of the Directory of Automobile, Civilian Modified Vehicle, and Motorcycle Manufacturers and Products Nationwide'.

What's the use of this thing?

It means that only the cars produced by factories and enterprises within this directory will have their products inspected and licenses issued by the public security bureau.

All vehicles produced by companies outside of this directory are not qualified to be on the road!

Why could Geely only produce 'old-age scooters' when they first started? Because they weren't in this directory, and people simply wouldn't issue them license plates.

So, at this point in time, as long as you have the ability, you can build cars however you want, and build whatever kind of car you want.

The key is whether the higher-ups will approve the raw materials for you!

Without raw materials, you can't even build a bicycle. With raw materials, building trucks is no problem.

That's why Chen Fan asked Director Yang this question.

What's the use if you choose something yourself, but the higher-ups don't agree?!

Upon hearing his words, Director Yang first nodded in satisfaction, then smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about this issue. The key is to help the factory come up with a good path forward."

Chen Fan raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled, "Alright."

…

After the three leaders left, Chen Fan immediately turned around and walked towards the vehicles.

As he walked, he was rolling up his sleeves, "Master Zhou, please help me."

The old master immediately walked over, grinning, "Picked one out? Which one do you want?"

Chen Fan chuckled and drew a circle with his hand, "Sorry to trouble you, but please help me dismantle both of these GAZ vehicles!"

Master Zhou's eyes widened instantly, "Dismantle both of them?"

He turned his head to look at the two vehicles, then back at Chen Fan, "Both of them?"

Although the three factory leaders came together and said that Chen Fan could choose whatever he wanted, and the factory would be responsible for repairing it for him, they didn't say anything about dismantling both of them!

A row of workers from the auto repair class stood nearby, whispering to each other, obviously very curious.

They had almost no malice towards this young man, because back then, this kid's father used to run here every few days to study the data and performance of auto parts.

At the time, he almost guided everyone here, helping them improve their skills by a large margin, and their wages also increased a lot.

Unfortunately, he was an engineer in charge of research and development. They didn't have a chance to repay his kindness. Later, when he had an accident, they had even less of a chance.

Now that his son is here, isn't it just dismantling a few old cars? What's the big deal?

So, they were just a little curious, why did this kid want to dismantle two of them?

At this moment, Master Zhou's eyes turned slightly, as if he had realized something, "Do you want to choose the best-performing spare parts and then assemble them?"

Chen Fan smiled, "I have this idea."

After a pause, he whispered, "I want to test the metal fatigue strength of this car first. If it has already caused permanent damage, even if the appearance is complete, it is not suitable for use."

Master Zhou's expression suddenly became a little complicated. He hummed twice and said with a sigh, "You look like your mother, but you do things just like your father."

Then he turned around, raised his head, and shouted loudly, "Everyone come over and dismantle the two jeeps."

Everyone responded and moved, rushing over and squeezing Chen Fan to the side. Then, some pushed and some pulled, moving the two vehicles to two repair positions respectively, and then started working.

Chen Fan circled around beside them. Every time a part was dismantled, he would step forward to take a look.

These two are both imported GAZ-69A civilian models, with a four-door, five-seat structure and a removable soft top.

Not to mention the appearance, the interior of the car can be directly referenced to the old BJ212, which is a very bold style.

(GAZ-69A interior)

Chen Fan couldn't help but scratch his head looking at this rough punk style.

How can this thing be used?

Then he turned his gaze to the two Volga sedans on the other side.

In fact, this sedan is also called GAZ, its real name is GAZ-21, Volga is the model brand, first launched in 1956, and was also the main sedan model in the Soviet Union at that time.

(First generation Volga, the biggest feature is the large five-pointed star on the front bumper)

It is said that back then, the old Soviet Union's automobile industry was a bit lacking. This car was successfully born with the help of Ford, so the relationship between the old Soviet Union and the old America also had some entanglements in it.

Chen Fan thought that this car was also the old Soviet Union's 'high-end car', so there should be something good inside?

Then he went over to take a look, hey, it's not bad.

Although the appearance is too old-fashioned, the leather interior wins, and there is also electronic ignition, which is very rare.

The GAZ-69 still has to be cranked by hand.

Hmm, it seems like it can be used.

Chen Fan looked back. They were still dismantling the car over there. He found a place to sit down, asked Master Zhou for drawings and a pencil, and wrote and drew on the table.

The GAZ-69 was originally designed for the army. Although the 69A is a civilian version, the main structure has not changed. And the biggest feature of this car is that disassembly is particularly convenient, focusing on 'replace whatever is broken'.

So, as soon as Chen Fan drew a draft, the two vehicles had already been dismantled into small parts.

Master Zhou came over to look at Chen Fan's drawing and asked softly, "Only the engine is left, should we dismantle it or not?"

Chen Fan turned his head and glanced, "So fast?"

Master Zhou grinned and chuckled twice, "This is still slow. The main thing is that the small car team in the factory are all sedans. They haven't dismantled jeeps in the past two years. In the past, dismantling it into this state would take no more than 5 minutes!"

Chen Fan put down his pen and walked over to look at the engine, "Dismantle this too."

After a pause, he leaned in front of Master Zhou a little embarrassedly and whispered, "Can you dismantle that Volga too?"

Master Zhou smacked his lips, glanced at him, and waved his hand and shouted, "Dismantle those two too."